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U ITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE,

CUTHBERT c. JOHNSON, or OAKWOOD onor'r, NEAR DARLINGTON,

- ENGLAND.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ENSILAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,248, dated April 30, 18 89.

Application filed June 28,1887- fierial No. 242,721. (No model.) Patented in England October 25, 1884, No. 14,118, and March 15, 1886, 110.8,659; in France December 7,1886,N0.180,123; inBelgium December 10, 1886, No. 75,560; in VictoriaMarch" 14, 1887, No. 4,981; in Canada March 16,1887, No. 26,259; in Cape of Good Hope August 17, 1887, No. 6/4106; in Natal August 18, 1887, and in Italy September 30, 1887, XLIII, 4:91. i

gust 18, 1887, (no number in Italy September 30, 1887, No. 491; in Great Britain, No.1el,113, October 25, 1884, and No. 3,659, March 15, 1886; in France, No. 180,123, December 7,1886; in Belgium, No. 7 5,560, December 10, 1886; in

Victoria, No. 4,981, March14, 1887, and in Canada, No. 26,259, March 16, 1887.

My improvement relates to the manufacture of ensilage by the stack process as dis tinguished from the silo process.

I will describe a method for carrying out my improvement in detail, and then point out the novel features in the claim.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an apparatus by which my improvement may be carried into effect.

Figure 1 is a plan or top view of apparatus suitable for carrying out my improvement. Fig. 2 is an end View of the same.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in both figures.

X designates a stack of material adapted to be made into ensilage. The material is first placed in a loose condition above the ground, preferably upon supports 8, which may be of wood. In further carrying out the process I compress the stack both upon its top and sides in lines which extend over the top of the stack plying the pressure in the manner described I have shown anumber of drums, A, mounted in this instance upon frames 13, secured upon the supports 8, near the outer extremities of the latter. It will therefore be seen that the drums A, mounted upon each of the supports S, are approximately opposite each other, this forming pairs of drums. Cords or bands 00 are coiled at their ends upon the drum comprised in the several parts and extend over the top of the stack and downwardly at the sides.

It will be readily seen that as the cords or bands at are coiled up tightly upon the drums A pressure will be extended in lines upon the top and sides of the stack, which lines of compression will be at distances apart from each other.

It will also be observed that as flexible bands or cords are employed for exerting the pressure the pressure at each end of the lines of compression will be uniform at both the top and sides. Either of the bands or cords as may be tightened independently of any of the others, so that the pressure upon the stack at any of the lines of compression may be varied at will. This is advantageous, because the pressure may be wholly removed from a certain portion of the stack and maintained upon the other portions of the stack should it be desired to remove a portion of the ensilage.

I have shown the drums A as provided at their ends with ratchet-teeth a, which engage pawls b upon the frames B. The drums may berrotated in any suitable manner; but I have shown levers D, provided with f ulcrum-pieces (1, adapted to be placed in suitable sockets in the frames B. These levers operate pawls b, and the lovers may be readily placed in position upon any of the frames B, as desired, and operated to rotate the drums,

My method contains numerous advantages, not the least important of which is, that it admits of the pressure being applied uniformly while the stack is under process of erection as, for in stance, at 11ight--and the stack when completed presents a rounded and yet firm top, from which rain will be readily deflected.

The form of the stack is due to the application of the pressure uniformly throughoutthe lines of compression over the top and sides of the stack.

I am aware that it is old to place hay and 1 grain in stacks and place covers upon the stacks and to secure said covers to the ground T by chains or cords passing through them to pegs driven in the ground. I am aware, also, that it is old to place cut grass or similar material upon the ground, and to place a cover upon the material and place Weights upon the cover, and I do not herein claim either of these methods for forming ensilage.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Theherein-described method of forming ensilage, consisting in placing the material in a loose stack above the ground and compressing the stack both upon its top and sides in lines at distances apart, said pressure being uniformly distributed over the top and sides at each of the lines of compression, and Varying the pressure upon each of the lines of compression at will, substantially as specified.

C. G. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

OCTAVIUS HORRUDONTE WooLE, JOHN BIRCHALL KENT. 

